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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Back Where We Belong

Today we returned to DevOcean after our 17 month unplanned break, both Marc and I are ecstatic. Seriously, we didn’t know what to expect and we were worried. Anyone who follows this blog knows that when we returned in 2014 after a six month hiatus, we were met with a mess. The port lights in the salon had cracked, causing a lot interior damage, so much so, that we spent six weeks and two days on the hard. Now I’m not the most patient person when I am unhappy, and living on a boat, on the hard, was just plain awful. To this day I am still apologizing to Marc about my behavior and he is still cashing in favors, in exchange for my less than stellar performance.

How worried we were was clear from the tone of our many conversations during the drive. We gave each other pep talks, solutions to probable problems, alternatives we could live with. We rejigged our budget expecting the worse. checked our attitudes and became each others cheer leaders.

Marc was worried about the shape of DevOcean and all the work that awaited us.

I was worried about another extended stay on the hard, For my non sailing friends, a definition of living on the hard is, a boat that should be swaying gently in the water but is mounted on stands enabling the captain and crew to repair the ship. Living on the boat during haul out is incredibly challenging and not for the weak at heart. The head is dry, the stairs are high, yard dust is flying, tools are everywhere and your small living space becomes even smaller. Think engine, hoisted in the middle of your kitchen. As I’ve said, we’ve done this before and it wasn’t pretty so this time much to the demise of our pocket-book and benefit of our marriage we rented an air B & B for the first two weeks of our return.

So what really did happen when we saw DevOcean… Surprisingly to me, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was home. I think if Marc could have hugged her, he would have, and I think he did when I wasn’t looking, this hiatus has been way to long. Honestly she looks pretty good. Many of our fears were for nothing. The shade cloth worked really well and we have very little damage. Of course, there is the green mossy stuff that is covering the outside surfaces, but that will wash away pretty easily. The inside held up very well with little show of her sitting for an extended period of time. Often, throughout our first day I heard Marc talking to himself with pleasure that most of the systems are still working. We enjoyed poking around and getting reacquainted with our much loved boat, our home, our traveling companion. Now what will tomorrow bring…

Great that DevOcean has fared well over the year and one half away. I know the joy we feel each spring when Windswept is launched after 8 months out of the water - can just imagine how you feel after double that time!

Yes we are happy to be here now. We enjoyed all your Facebook post this summer and it sure help us pass the time until now. By the way Congratulations on your retirement. Linda and I hope you have a well deserved rest and great times.

Hello JacquesIt won't be too long. We think a couple of weeks. Main jobs are changing the cutless bearing, fix a motor mount then clean her up top to bottom. We will be returning to the Bahamas this season..Marc